6 Bird -Lore 



month during the twenty-two-year period being as follows: January, 7.53 

 inches (in 1907)*; February, 6.42 (1909); March, 11.77 (1897); April, 10.44 

 (1893); May, 6.63 (1908); June, 7.93 (191 1); July, 8.67 (1896); August, 6.37 

 (1907)!; September, 12.23 (1911); October, 8.70 (1905); November, 6.71 

 (1891); December, 5.16 (1901). 



The hottest month may be either June, July, or August, the coldest either 

 of the three winter months. The highest mean temperature recorded for each 

 month is as follows: January, 40.39° (in 1890); February, 41.66° (1890); 

 March, 54.47° (1910); April, 64.12° (1896); May, 72.45° (1896); June, 79.30° 

 (191 1); July, 85.85° (1901); August, 83.09° (1900); September, 74.77° (191 1); 

 October, 64.46° (1900); November, 54.23 (1909); December, 42.07° (1891). 

 The lowest mean temperatures being: January, 23.33° (1893); February, 24.44° 

 (1899)$; March, 35.81° (1906); April, 49.90° (1904); May, 61.45° (1907); 

 June, 70.10° (1903); July, 75.03° (1895); August, 72.52° (1890); September, 

 61.99° (1890); October, 51.39° (1895); November, 39.49° (191 1); December, 

 27.20° (1909). The lowest temperature recorded is — 21° (on January 7, 1912), 

 and the highest 109° (on July 24, 1901). 



Probably in no other way can the seasonal changes in bird-life and vege- 

 tation — the two being intimately related — be more concisely told than by 

 quoting extracts from my diary, omitting dates when there was nothing of 

 interest to record. I do not remember to have seen such a record in print, and 

 therefore believe that the following, covering, as it does, a period of seventeen 

 consecutive months, will be of interest. 



1913 



June 5. En route from Washington to July 8. First flowers open of Meehan's 



Olney, via B. &. O. Southwestern. Catalpa mallow marvels. 



speciosa in full bloom near and for July 18. Ma.ximum temperature (official 



some distance west of Cincinnati; past record), 106°. 



bloom (flowers all fallen) at Olney, where July 27. First flowers of Chinese trum- 



C. catalpa is coming into bloom. pet-vine {Teconia grandiflora) open. 



June 7. Catalpa catalpa in nearly full July 30. Maximum temperature (official 



bloom; orange day-lily {Hemerocallis fulva) record), 104°. 



with first flowers open. August 5. First flowers open of scarlet 



June 16. Spircea tomentosa and Hyperi- hibiscus {H. coccineus) and Datura metel- 



cum aureum commencing to bloom. aides. (Both these species absolutely 



June 23. Japanese varnish tree {Keel- hardy here.) 



reuteria paniculata) in full bloom. August 6. Maximum temperature (offi- 



June 26. Common Elder in full bloom cial record), 104°. 



(belated by drought?). August 7. Maximum temperature 



July 2. Rose of Sharon {Hibicus syria- (official record), 103°. 



cus) commencing to bloom. August 10. First flowers open of crepe 



*In January, 1913, the precipitation was 9.01 inches. 

 fDuring August, 1914, the precipitation was 7.83 inches. 



tThe mean temperature of February, 1914, however, was 23.40°. The records for 1912 

 and 1914 are incomplete, and therefore these years are not included in the averages cited. 



